TZANEEN – Firefighters and volunteers battled strong winds, difficult mountainous terrain and heavy fuel loads on Saturday, October 17, as a wildfire swept through Bergplaas in Georges Valley, destroying approximately 20 hectares of pine plantation.

According to Rouan Snyman of the Letaba Fire Protection Association (LFPA), the fire was reportedly caused by ritual activities near mountain streams in the Georges Valley area.

“It was very difficult to get to as it’s mountainous terrain,” Snyman said, adding that approximately 20 hectares of plantation were lost, while the remaining affected areas consisted mainly of grassland and previously clear-felled land.

The fire prompted a coordinated response involving municipal firefighters, the Tzaneen Emergency Support Team, LFPA, forestry companies, landowners and volunteers.

David Bopape from the municipality was among the first responders, while Paul Altenroxel arranged additional firefighting teams, including one equipped with a skid unit.

Other responders included Marnus de Beer, a Diggersrest Timber team member, and a team from Das Baurenhof farm.

Flames spread uphill

Incident commander Byron Stroud reported that flames were spreading uphill through pine plantations, driven by strong winds and substantial fuel loads.

Firefighting teams worked throughout the day to contain the blaze, with crews conducting controlled backburns to prevent flames from crossing a road.

Several teams equipped with bakkie sakkies tackled the fire’s left front flank, while additional firefighters worked at other positions.

Sections brought under control

As conditions improved, firefighters managed to bring sections of the blaze under control, although operations continued into the evening.

The left flank was eventually brought under control, while the right flank moved towards indigenous forest and a river, where firefighters expected the fire to lose intensity.

A quiet fire season, but caution urged

Snyman said this year’s fire season had been unusually quiet due to substantial winter and September rainfall.

Improved conditions prompted the association to ease certain burning restrictions in early October, allowing permitted burns from Monday to Thursday, except for hazardous pine clear-felling operations.

The dedicated firefighting helicopter was also returned to Cape Town.

However, rising temperatures have prompted renewed caution, with burning permits suspended for the week amid forecasts of extreme heat.

Risks increase towards mid-November

Snyman warned that vegetation could dry out rapidly towards mid-November, increasing wildfire risks.

Although fires have generally been smaller and easier to contain this season, access to mountainous areas remains challenging.